2001 Impala LS - Blinking Battery Light

Bought this car on Thursday. Beautiful shape both inside and out. One owner. Little high on mileage, but runs great! NOW for the problem. Literally 2 miles from home (after buying the car and driving 30 miles), my battery light started flashing. No loss of power, no sputtering. Next morning? Drove about 30 miles again before the stupid thing came on, only this time it went off after 2 blocks. Friday night. Stopped to get gas, but then the car wouldn't start. Hubby put in in neutral and she fired right up...only with NO dash lights or gauges in use! Got home, turned car off and then back on and everything fine.

ANY help would be so appreciated!!!!

 

The flashing battery indicator is the PCM detecting an alternator malfunction. There's probably a stored trouble code. The no start in park sounds like it had to do with the PNP switch (prevents starting unless in park or neutral, your hubby knows his stuff). I'm not sure about the instrument cluster. Did the indicators and gauges initially flash/sweep when the key was turned? Maybe contact the previous owner and ask about these problems and what all's been worked on?